Tennis racket press



June 1956 w. G. CURRY 2,750,190

TENNIS RACKET PRESS Filed June a, 1955 i INVENTOR. WW 4 407% Y "Rm/m TENNIS RACKET PRESS William G. Curry, Agawam, Mass, assignor to Raymond S. Bourdon, doing business as Bourdon Mfg. (30., Suliield, Conn.

Application June 6, 1955, Serial No. 513,469

6 Claims. (Cl. 27374) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a tennis racket press and is directed more particularly to the provision of means wherein spaced pressure bars exert a pressure upon a racket disposed therebetween and to an improvement in the means for accomplishing said pressing function.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a novel and improved construction of the type in which the pressure bars are urged toward each other and there is the further provision of a press which will eliminate the now present objectionable inconveniences and which will operate with a maximum amount of ease and with a minimum degree of effort.

One of the primary purposes of my invention is to provide structural and operational improvement in devices of the class to which refrence has been made, which improvements not only simplify the structure as such, but also provide important distinct advantages in strength, durability, efficiency and the like.

The principal object of the invention is directed to the provision of a racket press wherein pressure bars act to exert pressure so as to press the frames between which the head of a tennis racket is disposed.

According to novel features of the invention, press bars are disposed in slots arranged whereby, through the action of springs, the pressure bars are operated for their pressure applying function to frames at opposite sides of a tennis racket head.

Other prime objects of my invention include; first, the securement of a higher degree of accuracy and greater degree of variety in the manner of work performed therewith than has heretofore been possible with prior devices known in the art; second, the attainment of a higher speed of construction and assembly of the device due to its simplification of design and its unique composition of parts; third, the attainment of a flexibility or a capability of adjustment by which a large variety of work can be produced by means of the same device; fourth, the achievement of a greater ease in adjustment and repairs, fifth, the provision of an improved press which may be made more economically and with fewer operations in the manufacture of its parts, as well as in the assembly of the same, than prior devices known in the art; sixth, the provision of a construction which may be readily installed with respect to the various purposes for which it is intended, andseventh, the provision of such other improvements in and relating to presses of the type above referred to as are hereinafter described and claimed.

With the above primary objects in view, it is another object of my invention to provide a construction of the above described character in which the number of operating parts is greatly reduced and which is compact in accordance with the demands and desires of manufacturers and purchasers alike and which is not only distinctive in its appearance and practical in its value but also reliable in its operation and efiicient in its use.

It is still further object to provide a device which is constructed of relatively simple parts which are adapted nited States PatentO A 2,750,190 Patented June 12, 1956 ICC to be readily assembled and which when once assembled are positively and securely retained in operative relationship and which cannot be readily separated from each other, either accidentally or otherwise.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming parts of this specification.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated a complete example of a physical embodiment of the invention in which the parts are combined and arranged in accordance with one mode which I have devised for the practical application of the principles of the invention.

It will however be understood that changes and alterations are contemplated and may be made in these exemplifying drawings, and mechanical structure, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the principles of the invention.

In the above mentioned drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have presented but one embodiment of my invention which is deemed preferable, but if for purposes of illustration only. It is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of incorporation in other modified forms coming equally within the scope of the claims hereof and that changes may be made in various respects and within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the broad aspects and spirit of the invention.

All of the above cited objects I accomplish by means 7 of such structure and relative arrangement of parts thereof, as will fully appear by a perusal of the description below.

To these above and other ends and with the foregoing and various other and ancillary features and advantages and objects of my invention as will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, my invention consists in certain features of novelty, in a mode of operation, and in the combination, organization, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and more fully described and referred to in conjunction with accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a tennis racket press embodying the novel features of the invention and having the head of a tennis racket therein: and

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the press shown in Fig. 1.

In the following description and claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. These names however are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures and referring more particularly to the preferred form of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, I have shown lower and upper press frames 2 and 4 in order that the general relation and utility of the press may be best understood.

These frames 2 and 4 may be formed from wood or the like so as to be rigid and strong. They are similar in shape and each includes suitably secured together longitudinal side members 6 and forward and rear transverse end members 8 and 10 respectively.

Elongated side plates 12, preferably formed from metal, have depending portions at opposite ends which are attached to one of the press frames such as 2 by screws 14 or the like as shown. The side plates 12 at opposite ends thereof are provided with elongated guide slots 16. Guides 18 which may be screws are secured to the upper frame 4 and extend through the slots 16 and are movable therein.

The upper frame 4 is slidable up and down between the plates 12 toward and away from the frame 2. The guides and slots referred to guide and limit upward movements of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.

It will be appreciated that other link means can be substituted for the specific link means illustrated herein for the claimed purpose of urging by spring means the frames 2 and 4 towards each other so as to attain the desired clamping action during normal operation. The form shown is for purposes of illustration only.

Opposite end portions 20 of the side plates are provided with slots 22 which, as to the opposite ends of each plate, are disposed relatively angularly. In the form of the invention shown, the slots of each side plate converge relatively downwardly.

Seats 24 are provided at upper ends of the slots 22 which are adapted to receive end portions of elongated pressure bars on rods 26.

The pressure bars 26 extend transversely across and over the upper frame 4. Opposite ends thereof extend through the slots of the plates 12 at opposite sides of the said frame 4.

Tension springs 28 adjacent the plates 12 have their opposite ends connected to the ends of the pressure bars as shown. Enlargements 30 are carried by opposite ends 'of the bars 26 and may be secured thereto by screw threads or other suitable means. Washers 27 as shown may be carried by the ends of the bars 26.

As shown in the drawings, the head portion H of a tennis racket is disposed between the frames 2 and 4.

The springs 28 are such that the pressure bars 26 are pulled thereby downwardly of the slots 22 and towards one another so as to press on the upper frame 4.

The racket head is pressed between the frames and the parts are so arranged that the frames act on a racket head whether or not upper and lower sides of the head are in parallelism.

To release the upper frame the ends of the pressure bars 26 are moved against the action of the springs and disposed in the seats 24. With pressure removed from the upper frame 4, it may be moved away from the lower frame 2 so as to release the racket head for withdrawal thereof from between the frames.

The springs 28, of course, may be designed for applying the desired pressure to the upper frame thereby to provide the desired pressing action.

The device is such as to be readily and easily operated for inserting and pressing a racket head or removing it from the device.

The slots for the pressure bars may be arranged in various ways so that the bars may be actuated for the purpose of applying pressure or so that the bars may be positioned in non-pressure position.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in a specific arrangement, I do not intend to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of my invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims below.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A press construction for a tennis racket comprising in combination, lower and upper press frames for receiving therebetween a racket head and each having opposite longitudinal sides, elongated plates having end portions secured to opposite sides of one of said frames and upper portions between which the other of said frames is slidable towards and away from said one frame, longitudinally spaced transversely extending pressure bars over the outer side of said other frame, said plates provided with slots in which opposite ends of said bars are slidably arranged for movement of said bars towards one another and against said other frame for applying pressure thereto, and means urging said bars towards one another.

2. Press construction set forth in claim 1 wherein means is provided for releasably holding said bars against movement towards one another.

3. Press construction for a tennis racket comprising in combination, press frames for receiving therebetween and pressing a tennis racket, relatively spaced pressure bars disposed transversely over the outer side of one of said frames, means at opposite sides of said frames for guiding said frames towards and away from one another having slot means receiving opposite ends of said pressure bars arranged for guiding said bars onto said one frame or holding said bars away from said frame, and spring means urging said bars towards said one frame.

4. Press construction for a tennis racket comprising in combination, separate press frames for receiving and pressing therebetween a tennis racket and having opposite longitudinal sides, elongated plates secured to opposite sides of one of said frames for guiding the other frame towards and away therefrom, said plates provided with relatively spaced slots, spaced pressure bars over said other frame having opposite ends in said slots, said slots arranged for guiding said rods towards and away from said other frame, springs urging said rods towards said other frame, and means for receiving said rods and holding them against the action of said springs.

5. A press construction for a tennis racket comprising, lower and upper press frames for receiving a racket therebetween, each of said frames having opposite longitudinal sides, elongated plates having end portions secured to opposite sides of one of said frames and upper portions between which the other of said frames is slidable towards and away from the one said frame, longitudinally spaced transversely extending pressure bars over the outer side of the other of said frames, said plates provided with means by which opposite ends of said bars are slidably arranged for movement towards one another and against said other frame for applying pressure thereto, and means urging said bars towards one another.

6. Press construction set forth in claim 5 wherein means is provided for releasably holding said bars against movement towards one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 464,014 Great Britain April 9, 1937 72,398 Denmark 1951 688,409 Great Britain Mar. 4, 1953 

